Gisele Bündchen at the Annenberg: “I Am My Worst Critic”

*Photographer Nino Muñoz (L) and model Gisele Bündchen pose at the opening night of 'Beauty Culture' at the Annenberg Space for Photography on May 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)*Last night in Los Angeles, all eyes were on the Annenberg. Described as a “photographic exploration of how feminine beauty is defined, challenged and revered in modern society,” the gallery’s “Beauty CULTure” exhibition comprises over 100 breathtaking images, prompting questions about what beauty means to us. And in a city like L.A., there was plenty to discuss. On hand were some of Hollywood’s most beautiful faces, including Halle Berry, Katie Holmes, Dita Von Teese, iconic 1960s model Peggy Moffitt, models Alek Wek and Petra Nemcova, Amber Heard, Olivia Munn, and supermodel Gisele Bündchen.Later in the evening, over lavender-fizz Cocktails and Michele Gan passed appetizers, Wallis Annenberg, came out to introduce a secret performer (she later told us “you always have to have a few little surprises”.) And from behind a curtain immerged Dita Von Teese, who dazzled the slack-jawed audience with a burlesque number, stripping all the way down to bejeweled thong and tassels. Annenberg told us, “She is the queen of burlesque and I’ve seen her perform in Paris and different fashion shows—I thought if I ever do beauty, there’s no one who would be more appropriate.”

Inside the gallery, Gisele browsed photographs (she is in many of them) with photographer Nino Muñoz. “Some of the times I’ll look at a photo of myself and ask ‘Ugh, what’s happening?’” she told us. “But the most important thing for me is that I’m never looking at the pictures asking, ‘Do I look pretty for my eyes,’ because I am my worst critic. It’s more about, ‘Did I capture what is trying to be captured?’”

Annenberg is particularly excited about this exhibit. “Living in this society, especially in Los Angeles, you have a culture that revels in the superficial and certainly in the skin-deep. I think this was one of the most important conversations for the Annenberg Space,” she says. “I’m very proud of the extraordinary range of artists we have been able to include,” she said. Other actors at the event included Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Cheadle, Daryl Hannah, Jordana Brewster, Jenna Elfman, Ali Larter, Jenny McCarthy and Sophia Bush.